Do you think that the Bible has a negative bias towards women?

Question

Think about it: Eve is blamed for the fall. Sarah (Abraham's wife)is known to be jealous and have a bad temper. Bathsheba can only have one reason for bathing on the roof, and Mary Magdelene was a prostitute (according to opinion, not the Bible).

Do you all think that women have a bad rep in the Bible (and Torah, to be fair) or no?

Serious question all.

Find me some Biblical Basis that Mary Magdelene was a prostitute. You won't find it.

Answer 1

Oh, absolutely. Especially the old testement. It dosen't seem to me that Jesus had anything agianst them, but the old testement is incredibly sexist. The church is, too. In the early church, women were allowed to be priests- papal decree ended that. There have always been more religious laws about what women can't do then what men can't do.

I can think of a few off the top of my head from the old testement.
1) (leviticus) Women on their periods cannot go outside or touch anything, or whatever they touch becomes unclean. After their peroid is finished, they must sacrifice two doves before they are pure agian.
2) Taking sexual slaves is perfectly legit, agian from Leviticus. If you capture one that was married, though, you must shave her head and clip her nails to end her mourning before you can sleep with her. (Its okay, even if the man is married, because she's a slave.)
3) If a woman intervenes in a fight between her husband and another man by injuring the mans genitals, her hand is cut off.
4) prostitutes are to be stoned to death, but their clients go free.
5)If a woman is charged with not being virgin when she is married because her husband dislikes her, it is brought before a judge. If she can prove she was virgin (blood on the sheets) the man is not allowed to divorce her. If she can't prove it, she is stoned to death. (she looses either way!)

See my point? I could keep going all day! The old testement can be really funny sometimes. Read leviticus- its just plain silly.

Answer 2

From the perspective of the time of which those in the Bible had been portrayed, bias was not an issue or of any grave concern. The Bible is God's manual for His creation on how to live righteously in the word the will and the ways of God. Back in the time as the Bible was being written, it was the inspired Word of God and through men the Bible was portrayed in that setting because this was the culture of the time. Men were the heads of the household and the spiritual leaders also. So it is today. God does not change, only humans do.

Answer 3

i think the blame is profoundly placed on Eve at least to my understanding of reading tim ch.2.
and for many many years, the tradition of keeping women in a lower heirarchy was justified because women were seen as the cause of the fall. I know there was a movie where it depicted Eve as One who is still in rebellion against God, and that she Continues to commit adultery throughout all the centuries was implied. The guy actor was the same one who did the scissorhands movie. why cant i remember his name?

but in america women are honored more appropriately. the idea of ancient and mutual agreements between Man and wife were generally covenanted in marriage and society because of the need for Survival. Each person having their duties and responsibilities.
There is one verse in the bible that stands out among the rest and speaks of women being forgiven in child bearing. but a woman who is not married cannot have children in righteousness therefor one must conclude they will not be forgiven because they, man and wife, do not continue Faithfully.
A faithful wife, it also says, is worth the price far above rubies and therefore highly exalted with her husband When they come to God. but a devouring wife is a legion of evil that must be forsaken.

No! the bible does not have a bias against women, it exalts good behaviour in some places and condemns women for the acts of wickedness they perform.
If a woman wants here husband to be mutually honorable towards her, she must also be equally honorable to him. it works. try it.
there are so many things I can add further.

Answer 4

It depends on what standard you wish to use.

If you use today's Western Industrialized Cultural standard's then you could easily reach that conclusion.

If on the other hand, you understand the position of women in the times of the writing of the Bible, then you would be much less likely to do so. In the Holy Land in first century AD, women had almost no standing... They could not testify in court, they were not to be spoken with openly. Part of the upset that Jesus caused was in the fact that he would converse equally with men and women. One of the points on the resurrection narratives, is that if you read that it was the women who saw Jesus first, which would have been considered an embarrassment at the time, and the response of the Apostles was less than enthusiastic to their story...

Also, in Genesis, remember when God is inquiring as to what was done, Adam in typical fashion, blames his wife, who then says "the devil made me do it"... This is typical buck passing. All parties involved were condemned

Answer 5

No, I don't think that. If men were back then, the way they are now, the woman were probley going KooKoo like they do now. There's nothing like a man that can bring out your "inner crazy". Maybe you're right. That's probley how woman became so minipulative. It's not Eve's fault that Adam wanted to play stick in the whole. It says, not to hate the sinner, hate the sin, right. So, it's not anyones fault. So Eve was a bit of a temptress. Aren't we all.

Answer 6

NO. The first word used for God to describe woman, was "helper." or "help meet." In Genesis, God made the woman and called her this. The Hebrew word used here means protector, military ally, and shield. If you look at the usage of the word in the OT, it's only used around 20 times, and 80-90 % of those times it's used to describe GOD.

As for Sarah, she may have had a temper and been jealous at that time. But that doesn't mean it defines her character! She is also written as a woman of faith, right along with the men mentioned in Hebrews 11. And Mary Magdalene was a follower of Christ (regardless of her past) and one of the pillars of the early church!

Read about Deborah in the early chapters of Judges.

Answer 7

But what about Ruth? And although Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, was she not dearly loved by Jesus. And consider the way the Bibles speaks of how a husband should love his wife, so much he would give up his life for her.

I think it swings both ways, punishment for those that needed punishment, and reverance for those who earned it.

Answer 8

There are many examples in the Bible of women of less then perfect moral character. But that does not mean bias. for every bad woman in the Bible there are more bad men. We all are basically in the same boat both men and women and God has sent his word and his Son to save us all.

Answer 9

the right Christian attitude could be to love each and every others, as we would prefer to be enjoyed. whilst i individually do no longer believe the gay existence sort, it by utilising no ability impacts my view of the guy. They too, are a baby of God basically like i'm. we are all entitled to fairness and equality in regulation yet in the words of a late, former top Minister of Canada, "the government has no company in the bedrooms of the rustic." So, whilst specific rights for specific circumstances could be perfect in some eventualities, i do no longer think of we ought to make modifications to rules with regard to homosexuality as a guy or woman's sexuality is an fantastically very own ingredient. Christians ought to be extra tolerant, understand-how and loving in direction of our gay brothers and sisters. we don't inevitably ought to settle for the habit yet we ought to consistently be waiting to voice our disapproval of the behaviour without being referred to as a bigot or homophobe whilst on the comparable time, showing the affection that Christ might have shown if He have been in our shoes. God Bless, Phil

Answer 10

You are ignoring all the good the bible brings out.
Abraham's wife was deeply respectful of him.
A woman saved her family from harm, and she was a prostitute.
Another made cloths for friends.
Timothy's mother and grandmother brought him up to serve Jehovah, and he became a church leader.
And a whole lot more. If it weren't for sisters in the congregations their would be a great deal less witness work going on. They carry the load by day.........Bless you my sisters!